Pawar under EC scanner over ‘voting twice’ comment

March 25, 2014 11:15 am

Agencies, New Delhi
The Election Commission is probing charges that Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar asked supporters to vote twice in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. A poll panel spokesperson said the EC is examining what Mr Pawar said at a porters rally yesterday.
In the country, candidates might be allowed to contest from two seats but voting from two places is contraband.

Mr Pawar was speaking at a porters rally, when he asked the workers to wipe the indelible ink from their fingers and vote again. ‘’Vote for NCP in Satara, then come to vote in Mumbai but make sure to wipe off the ink on your finger or it could lead to trouble,” Mr Pawar is heard saying in Marathi during his speech. He later said the comment was a joke.
Mr Pawar told the workers to take advantage of the multiple polling dates in Maharashtra by voting in their home villages first, then wipe off the ink and cast a ballot again in Mumbai.

Voters in Maharashtra go to the polls on April 10, 17 and 24 depending on where they live. Satara, for instance, goes to the polls on April 17 and Mumbai on April 24.

Mr Pawar at a news conference last evening said his comments were being taken out of context and were made in jest.